Halfords vs CRC - what a rip off

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Halfords vs CRC - what a rip off

47 posts & 34 voices | Started 2 years ago by aracer | Latest reply from Spey Stout

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rOcKeTdOg - Member

So does this apply to other stuff? If I go and buy say an apple at the ASDA round the corner I may not be getting the same price as I would from the Tesco across town? It could be more it could be less?

support your independant retailer! it'll be fresher (as they keep less stock so quicker turnaround) it'll be better quality (indy shop lives or dies by it's reputation) and you'll feel all warm inside as you engage in a bit of banter with probably the owner of the business rather than some bored teen/chav on the checkout*

*yes i used to have my own greengrocer/florist empire

Posted 2 years ago #
jim the saint - Member

What I find interesting/annoying is the price comparisons with the SID's. To be fair it's been a few years now since I've seen a Fishers trade price list, but if I remember right an LBS can get RockShox forks for about 30% less than RRP, it may even be less than 30%. That obviously means that an LBS buys in that fork for about £450, Merlin Cycles were selling them at £369.95 and obviously making a profit, but even more annoyingly that means that for Merlin to make just 10% profit (I'd imagine they make more) they bought them for £333.

If a manufacturer/distributor can sell a product and still make a profit on it for £333 (remember they probably sold it to Merlin for less than that), why are they taking the pi$$ out of LBS's and us with trade prices of £450, and RRP's of £640?

Posted 2 years ago #
wwaswas - Member

I'm sure if your LBS rolled up to Fishers and ordered 300 pairs of forks they'd get a better price than they woudl for just the one.

Merlin CRC et al buy big and pass the saving on (just like Tesco's vs your local corner shop). It may not be palatable if you're the small guy but it's the way business works.

Posted 2 years ago #
jim the saint - Member

wwaswas - Obviously in business there will be quantity discounts offered to customers. I work for a business that supplies coffee to every size of business, from Tesco's to your cafe at the bottom of the street. The difference in margin between our biggest customer, a supermarket, and our smallest customer is 11%.

A conservative estimate on the difference between what Merlin pays and what an LBS will pay is 26%.

Now if we don't rip off the little business just to keep the big business happy then why do they do it in the bike trade?

LBS's are the life blood of the bike trade. As far as I'm aware it's one of the few remaining retail sectors where the independent traders still have a significant percentage of the market. If manufacturers/distributors carry on taking the pi$$ with LBS's then they will cease to be. I don't know about you but I get a shiver down my back when I think of a future where the only place where you can throw a leg over a bike before you buy it is Halfords.

Posted 2 years ago #
pop larkin - Member

Ive just had a cup of coffee in my lounge- I bet it would have cost more at Starbucks

Posted 2 years ago #
whytetrash - Member

Jim...suprised at that 11% difference...assumed Tescos et al would screw you for far more off!..do they get longer payment terms etc?

Looking at where you live can see where you are going with LBS's you can't get anything remotely technical round here!

p.s if you fancy a spin locally get in touch

Posted 2 years ago #
cookeaa - Member

FUCKYEAH!!!!

cheap at twice the price!

Piss Off Grandad!

IT'S ALL BOLLOCKS you toadying miserly skinflints!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Dirtynap - Member

Online is usually but not always cheapper than high street. Shop around find the best price and then buy it.

End of discussion.

Posted 2 years ago #
cookeaa - Member

Troll

Troll Doll

Troll

Troll

Posted 2 years ago #
zaskar - Inactive

I find the odd thing at Halfords quite good but save loads with CRC like cassettes and Merlin cycles is good too.

ALways shop around!

Posted 2 years ago #
PeteG55 - Member

Google shopping and ask at your local shop. Club discounts are always worth checking out of course. I can't get my head around why your so surprised that CRC isn't the cheapest for everything.

Posted 2 years ago #
Spey Stout - Member

What a pointless thread.

Posted 2 years ago #